Semileaky thin-film optical isolator

Journal Article · Fri May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.329186· OSTI ID:6452068

Kirsch, S T; Biolsi, W A; Blank, S L; Tien, P K; Martin, R J; Bridenbaugh, P M; Grabbe, P

Two interesting effects have been experimentally demonstrated for the first time: (1) simultaneous reciprocal and nonreciprocal mode conversion to achieve an isolation effect and (2) magneto-optic switching between guided and radiation modes. These effects were observed in connection with the construction of a previously proposed thin-film optical isolator. The isolator consists of a piece of LiNbO/sub 3/ placed on top of a thin film of yttrium ion garnet (YIG) with a selenium layer to avoid optical contact problems. The isolator, which is 1 cm long, exhibited 10 dB of isolation at lambda = 1.15 ..mu..m. The observed isolation was better than theoretical predictions and a mysterious isolation direction dependence on mode order was observed. Although the device had 10 dB of insertion loss and required a magnetic field of 40 Oe, with a slight change in wavelength and film composition, it should be possible to reduce the insertion loss and field required to under 1 dB and 0.1 Oe, respectively. These characteristics combined with broad tolerances on film thickness and the length of the isolation region, broadband operation (from lambda = 1.1 to 4.5 ..mu..m), and easy construction and adjustment make the isolator very attractive for use in integrated optics.

• Research Organization: ROLM Corporation, 4900 Old Ironsides Drive, Santa Clara, California 95050
• DOE Contract Number: E(11-1)-3070
• OSTI ID: 6452068
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 52:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
OPTICAL EQUIPMENT
WAVEGUIDES
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FERRITE GARNETS
FILMS
LAYERS
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETO-OPTICAL EFFECTS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NIOBATES
OSCILLATION MODES
QUANTITY RATIO
SELENIUM
WAVELENGTHS
YTTRIUM COMPOUNDS
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
DATA
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
INFORMATION
MINERALS
NIOBIUM COMPOUNDS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEMIMETALS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
440300* - Miscellaneous Instruments- (-1989)